Functional associations of pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis and emphysema with hypersensitivity pneumonitis

BACKGROUND: Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) has been described in hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) yet its functional implications are unclear. Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) has occasionally been described in never-smokers with HP, but epidemiological data regarding its prevalence is sparse. CTs in a large HP cohort were therefore examined to identify the prevalence and effects of PPFE and emphysema. Methods: 233 HP patients had CT extents of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and emphysema quantified to the nearest 5%. Lobar percentage pleural involvement of PPFE was quantified on a 4-point categorical scale: 0 = absent, 1 = affecting 33%. Marked PPFE reflected a total lung score of ≥3/18. Results were evaluated against FVC, DLco and mortality. RESULTS: Marked PPFE prevalence was 23% whilst 23% of never-smokers had emphysema. Following adjustment for patient age, gender, smoking status, and ILD and emphysema extents, marked PPFE independently linked to reduced baseline FVC (p = 0.0002) and DLco (p = 0.002) and when examined alongside the same covariates, independently linked to worsened survival (p = 0.01). CPFE in HP demonstrated a characteristic functional profile of artificial lung volume preservation and disproportionate DLco reduction. CPFE did not demonstrate a worsened outcome when compared to HP patients without emphysema beyond that explained by CT extents of ILD and emphysema. CONCLUSIONS: PPFE is not uncommon in HP, and is independently associated with impaired lung function and increased mortality. Emphysema was identified in 23% of HP never-smokers. CPFE appears not to link to a malignant microvascular phenotype as outcome is explained by ILD and emphysema extents

Physiological predictors of survival in patients with sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension: results from an international registry

INTRODUCTION: Sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension (SAPH) is associated with reduced survival in single-centre studies. The international Registry for SAPH (ReSAPH) with long-term follow-up was established to enrich our knowledge of this complication of sarcoidosis. This analysis aims to elucidate factors associated with reduced transplant-free survival in SAPH patients. METHODS: ReSAPH contains prospectively collected outcomes of SAPH patients since the time of registry enrolment. Information analysed includes right heart catheterisation data, pulmonary function testing, chest radiography, Scadding stage and 6-min walk distance (6MWD), among others. Cox regression models were used to identify independent predictors of transplant-free survival. RESULTS: Data from 215 patients followed for a mean±sd 2.5±1.9 years were available for analysis. In the 159 precapillary patients, the Kaplan-Meier-adjusted 1-, 3- and 5-year transplant-free survival was 89.2%, 71.7% and 62.0%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier-adjusted 1-, 3- and 5-year transplant-free survival in the incident group was 83.5%, 70.3% and 58.3%, respectively, and in the prevalent group was 94.7%, 72.2% and 66.3%, respectively. Patients with reduced diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (<35% predicted) and 6MWD <300 m in the precapillary cohort had significantly worse transplant-free survival. Reduced 6MWD and preserved forced expiratory volume (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio were identified as independent risk factors for reduced transplant-free survival in the precapillary cohort. CONCLUSION: Reduced DLCO (<35% pred) and 6MWD (<300 m) at the time of registry enrolment were associated with reduced transplant-free survi